Neck-yoke.



Patented July 24, I900. G. STERBETT.

NECK YOKE (Application filed Mar. 8, 1900.,

(No Model.)

17:08 afar 5%vrzzcy Z0 '2"; asses wrrnn STATES CARL STERRETT,

PATENT anion.

NECK-YOKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 654,555, dated July 24, 1900.

I 'Applioation'filed March 8, 1900i Serial. No. 7,905. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL STERRETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Manhattan, in the county of Riley and State of Kansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Neck-Yokes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to neck-yokes such as are employed in conjunction with the poles of corn-cultivators, mowing-machines, wagons,

carriages, 850., and it contemplates the provision of a neck-yoke equipped with simple, compact, and light means adapted to render it impossible for the lines or reins of the draftanimals to become engaged with or caught by the end of the pole or the ends of the neckyoke, thus removing a cause of annoyance and at the same time the liability of accidents from such cause.

With the foregoing in mind the invention will be fully understood from the following description and claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in whichi Figure l is a perspective view illustrating a pole or tongue and a neck-yoke connected thereto and provided with my improvements.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken section taken longitudinally of the neck-yoke.

Referring by letter to the said drawings, A is a pole or tongue such as used on mowingmachines, cultivators, carriages and wagons, and the like. B is a neck-yoke loosely connected to the pole or tongue, preferably 3 5 through the medium of the bolts a b, which are passed through the pole and neck-yoke, respectively, and have interlocked eyes, and O is my improved rein-guard,which has for its purpose to prevent the reins or lines of the draftanimals from being caught by the forward end of the pole and the ends of the neck-yoke and the annoyance and accidents generally incident thereto. The said rein-guard may be constructed of wrought or cast iron, steel 5 wire, or other material suitable to the purpose,

and in the preferred embodiment of the invention it comprises a how a, which has its upper end I) bifurcated and connected to the upper side of the neck-yoke by bolts 0' and 5c is curved forwardly and downwardly from said neck-yoke to a point below the forward end of the pole or tongue, and a truss-bar d, which is preferably arranged in the same vertical plane as the longitudinal center of the neck-yoke and is formed integral with the bow at, as shown. The said truss-bar d is carried from the lower end of the bow at up to and over the ends of the neck-yoke, and its ends are connected to the upper side of the neck-yoke, preferably by the same bolts 6 that connect the rings f, with which neckyokes are ordinarily provided. The trussbar is also provided at intermediate points of its length with arms g, which are connected to the neck-yoke by bolts h, as best shown in Fig. 2, whereby it will be seen that the truss bar is enabled to serve the additional function of strengthening the neck-yoke.

It is well known that especially in fly-tiine, when horses are wont to throw their heads 76 about, great annoyance and often serious accidents are caused by the reins or drivinglines being caught under the extended end of the pole and the ends of the neck-yoke. My improved rein-guard, as will be readily observed, renders it impossible for the reins or lines to become thus engaged, and there by obviates the above-mentioned cause of annoyance and precludes the possibility of accidents from such cause.

While my improved guard is calculated to effectually prevent the objectionable engagement of the driving-lines with the pole or neck-yoke, as above .noted, it is simple in construction and light in weight and adds to 8 5 rather than detracts from the neat appearance of the neck-yoke.

I have entered into a specific description of the construction of my improvements in order to impart a full, clear, and exact understanding of the same. I do not desire, however, to be understood as confining myself to such specific construction, as such changes or modifications may be made in practice as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A neck-yoke provided with a rein-guard comprising a bow connected to the neck-yoke 10o adjacent to the middle thereof and extending forwardly and downwardly therefrom,

and a longitudinal truss-bar'ex tending upwardly from the lower end of the bow to the ends of the neck-yoke and connected to said neck-yoke, substantially as specified.

' 2. A neck-yoke provided with a rein-guard comprising a bow connected to the neck-yoke adjacentto the middle thereof and extending forwardly and downwardly therefrom, and ,a longitudinal truss-bar extending upwardly from the lower end of the bow up to and over the ends of the neck-yoke; said truss-bar being connected at its'ends and at intermediate points oij its length to the neckyoke, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of a pole or tongue, a neck-yoke arranged above and loosely connected to the pole or tongue in rear of the forward end thereof, and a rein-guard formed inone piece and comprising a bow connected to the upper sideof the neck-yoke and curved forwardly, downwardly and rearwardly to a point below the forward end of the pole or tongue, and the longitudinal truss-bar eX- tending from the lower end of the bow up to and over the ends of the neck-yoke and having arms 9 at intermediate points of its length; the arms 9 and the ends of the said truss-bar being connected to the neck-yoke, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witmesses.

CARL STERRETT.

Witnesses:

J A. STERRETT,

H.- P. WAREHAM. 

